2 winners (and 1 loser) from first day of Cowboys training camp

Who stood out and who floundered at Day 1 of Cowboys training camp?
Jul 26, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talks with cornerback
Jul 26, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talks with cornerback / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The excitement from Day 1 of Dallas Cowboys training camp was paused after star defender Donovan Wilson was carted to the locker room with a calf injury. It's since been reported that Wilson suffered a calf strain and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, meaning he could miss all of camp.

We're all rooting for Wilson to get healthy, but the show in Oxnard must go on.

Injury aside, there was plenty to like from the first practice. Tony Pollard and Terence Steele looked healthier than expected coming off offseason surgery, while CeeDee Lamb showed he's already in mid-season form with a spectacular one-handed diving catch.

Lamb, Pollard and Steele are established vets at this point, though. They're expected to set an example for the younger players on the roster.

With that in mind, let's highlight two young guns who impressed on day one, and one player who failed to meet the bar.

Winner: Eric Scott Jr.

The Eric Scott Jr. hype train simply will not stop.

We actually pegged Scott as an "overhyped player" from OTAs and minicamp that fans need to pump the breaks on. Not because we're down on his talent and potential, but because it's impossible to project how a player will perform at camp after the early wave of the offseason program, when minimal contact (if any) is allowed and players don't wear pads.

Thus far, we have egg on our face for lumping Scott into that group because he logged the first interception of training camp. It admittedly came on a dropped pass, but Scott was in position to make a play and capitalized.

Loser: Simi Fehoko

Might as well stick with the same play, right? While Scott deserves credit for being right under Fehoko's nose, the 2021 fifth-round pick flat out dropped the pass. Dak Prescott couldn't have walked the ball to him any better.

While Fehoko didn't drop a pass at minicamp, per team writer Patrik Walker, and has some of the finest hands on the roster, this isn't an ideal start for the third-year receiver, who's in a battle with Jalen Tolbert for the WR4 spot.

Soft hands or not, pinpoint passes cannot result in turnovers.

Winner: Jalen Tolbert

Tolbert didn't garner a ton of buzz on social media at Wednesday's practice, but he impressed reporters. In fact, The Athletic's Jon Machota noted in a new article that Tolbert "looked confident while making some nice catches with the first-team offense."

Just as notable, though, is the fact Machota noted Tolbert worked as the Cowboys' fourth receiver behind Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup.

It's clear Tolbert is in a great headspace after a disappointing rookie year. Let's hope he's able to string together multiple strong practices.

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